Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

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BARTHOLOMEW, Peter Ian

Peter Ian Bartholomew No 3 Commando
No 3 Commando
Somerset Light Infantry
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Peter Ian Bartholomew served in No 12 Commando until their disbandment when he moved to No 3 Commando. He participated in the D Day landings as Captain of 2 troop.  On the Commando's return to NW Europe from the UK in 1945, he took command of No 3 Commando with the rank of Acting Lieutenant Colonel. 

BARTON, Bernard James

Barton 2 Commando
Newspaper article re Lt Barton MC
No 2 Commando
The Buffs / Reconnaissance Regiment / Royal Armoured Corps
Military Cross (MC)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Bar to the Distinguished Service Order

Bernard James Barton was commissioned Second Lieutenant in The Buffs on the 22nd June 1940 (1).

On the 30th January 1941 he was transferred to the Recce Corps. (2)

BLACK, Graeme Delamere

No 2 Commando
South Lancashire
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Military Cross (MC)
Executed
Captain Graeme Black DSO, MC, was executed whilst a Prisoner of War. He was one of the seven Commandos of No. 2 Commando who were captured after Operation Musketoon, and later executed under Hitler's Commando Execution Order, at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, Berlin, 1942. 

BOUCHER-MYERS, Bertram William Sydney

Major Boucher-Myers 4 Commando
No 4 Commando
Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales Volunteers)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Mentioned in Despatches
Bertram Boucher-Myers took part in the Lofoten and Dieppe raids receiving a MiD for the the latter [1], after which he was posted to the Staff College at Camberley. In 1946 he served with the East Lancs in India during their transition to independence. In 1949 he was posted to the military mission in Greece followed by a 2 year attachment to the Sudan Army.

CAMPBELL, Robin Francis

No 8 Commando
General List
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Temporary Captain Robin Campbell was attached to the raiding party for Operation Flipper, an attack on Rommel's HQ in November 1941. Wounded and taken prisoner, he was subsequently repatriated in 1943 because of his wounds. He relinquished his commission 31 December 1944 with the honorary rank of Captain..

COATES, John Gordon

No 10 Commando
30 Commando Assault Unit
Intelligence Corps
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
1942 Intelligence Officer No.10 (Inter Allied) Commando.
1943 Operations Officer 30 Commando AU Italy and Corsica
1944 Special Operations Executive.
Captain John Coates, attached SOE, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in the Field.
Recommendation

COPLAND, William Oranmore

No 2 Commando
No 4 Independent Company
South Lancashire Regiment
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Territorial Decoration (TD)
Major William Copland was second in command of No 2 Commando. He served with No 4 Independent Company and then with the newly formed No 2 Cdo. He took part in Operation Chariot and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his gallantry on the raid. He was taken prisoner and subsequently held at Oflag 9A/H at Spangenberg.
Citation

CUNNINGHAM, William

41RM Commando
Royal Marines
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Captain William Cunningham, 'Y' Troop Commander,  was appointed the Distinguished Service Order for gallant and distinguished service [1] during operations at at the Pachino Peninsula, Sicily, on the 10th July 1943 [2].

Sources
[1] London Gazette 36229, page 4812.
[2] National Archives file WO373/47/132.

DAWSON, Robert William Palliser

No 4 Commando
The Loyal Regt.
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Mentioned in Despatches
Lieutenant Robert Dawson was one of the first subalterns to join No 4 Commando in 1940, later taking part in the Dieppe raid  as Captain of 'C' troop.  
  • 1943 promoted Major and 2nd in command of No 4 Commando replacing Major Derek Mills-Roberts who left to command No 6 Commando.
  • April 1943 Lord Lovat left No 4 Commando and Major Dawson became Commanding Officer.  

DONNELL, Patrick Marshall

47RM Commando
Royal Marines
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Mentioned in Despatches
Croix de Guerre (France)
Acting Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Donnell received a Mention in Despatches on 3rd April 1945 for good services while operating with the Army in North West Europe [1][2a]. On 10 April 1945 he was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French [2a].

DRYSDALE, Douglas Burns

41 Ind. Cdo. RM
Royal Marines
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Mentioned in Despatches
Silver Star (USA)
Acting Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Drysdale assumed command of 44RM Commando on the 23rd April 1945. Formerly the Brigade Major he replaced Lt. Colonel Stockley who had been appointed to a position within Brigade HQ.*

DURNFORD-SLATER, John Frederick

No 3 Commando
Royal Artillery
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Bar to the Distinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Despatches

On the 28th June 1940 Captain J.F. Durnford-Slater was appointed Lieut. Colonel and ordered to raise and command No 3 Commando after volunteering for Special Service whilst Adjutant of the 23rd Medium and Heavy Training Regt., RA.

GRAHAM, John Malise

Middle East Commando
Royal Scots Greys
Military Cross (MC)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Companion of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire (CIE)

Lt. Col. John Malise Graham, MC,  is listed as the senior officer on a roll of Officers serving with Middle East Commando (1st S.S. Regiment) 1st July 1942.[1]

GRAY, Thomas Malcolm

Royal Marines
Royal Marines
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Military Cross (MC)
Died in service
Colonel Thomas Malcolm Gray DSO, MC, died in service whilst serving at HMS President.
  • Commanding Officer 41RM Commando on D Day, awarded the Military Cross.

GRAY, William Nichol

45RM Commando
Royal Marines
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Bar to the Distinguished Service Order
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)
Lieutenant Colonel William Nichol Gray was awarded the Distinguished Service Order [1] whilst Temporary Major (Acting Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel ) of the Commando [2].
 
Citation

HARDY, Campbell Richard

Lt Colonel Campbell Richard Hardy
46RM Commando
Royal Marines
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB)
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Bar to the Distinguished Service Order
2nd Bar to the Distinguished Service Order
Lieutenant Colonel Campbell Richard Hardy, commanded the 9th RM Bn., until it was redesignated as 46 RM Commando on 1 August 1943. He remained as Commanding Officer 46RM Commando until the end November 1944 when he left to take up the post of  Brigade Commander 3rd Special Service Brigade which was operating in the Far East.

HAYDON, Joseph Charles

Special Service Brigade
Irish Guards
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Bar to the Distinguished Service Order
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Mentioned in Despatches
Second Lieutenant Joseph Charles Haydon was commissioned into the Irish Guards 21 December 1917 [1]. On the 8th June 1939 now a Major, and Military Assistant to the Secretary of State for War, he was appointed O

HAYDON, Peter Hillyard

41RM Commando
Royal Marines
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Killed in action or died of wounds
Captain Peter Haydon, DSO, was killed during operations at Walcheren.
 
He had earlier been awarded the DSO for conspicuous gallantry and leadership in driving off repeated attacks by the enemy on the road from Salerno to Naples, though he was wounded and his men outnumbered by the enemy.*
 

HOLMES, Matthew John

3 Cdo. Bde. RM
Royal Marines
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Died in service
Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Holmes, Commanding Officer 42 Commando RM, was appointed D.S.O. in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Afghanistan during the period 1st October 2006 to 31st March 2007 [1].
  • 19 March 2013 (Colonel) promoted Brigadier [2].
  • 9 May 2018 promoted Major General [3].

HOPSON, Donald Charles

Donald Charles Hopson
No 3 Commando
Lancashire Fusilers, Royal Armoured Corps
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Military Cross (MC)
Mentioned in Despatches
Territorial Decoration (TD)
Second Lieutenant Donald Hopson was commissioned into the Lancashire Fusiliers which later converted to an armoured unit of the Royal Armoured Corps. He served in No 3 Commando and 1 Commando Brigade in both Italy and NW Europe . His last rank whilst in the Commando was Temporary Major.
 

JAMES, Paul Melvyn

Royal Marines
Royal Marines
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Lieutenant Colonel Paul James was appointed D.S.O. in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1st April 2010 to 30th September 2010 [1].
  • 22 August 2011 promoted Colonel [2].
  • 30 August 2017 to retired list [3].
Sources

KOMROWER, Arthur George

Arthur George Komrower DSO
No 3 Commando
Commando Basic Training Centre
Lancashire Fusiliers
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Territorial Decoration (TD)
Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Arthur Komrower was appointed D.S.O. [1] in recognition of gallant and distinguished service whilst temporarily commanding No. 3 Commando during operations at Termoli, Italy, between 4 -6 October 1943 [2]. This was during Lt. Col. Peter Young's short period of illness with malaria [3]. 

LAPRAIK, John Neilson

51ME Commando
SBS
SAS
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Military Cross (MC)
Bar to the Military Cross
Mentioned in Despatches
Territorial Decoration (TD)
Acting Captain John Neilson Lapraik was awarded the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished service in the Middle East [1].
Recommendation

LAYCOCK, Robert Edward

Major General Robert Edward Laycock
Special Service Brigade
Royal Horse Guards
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Knight of the Order of St John (KStJ)
Order of Oranje Nassau with Swords (Netherlands)
Legion of Merit (USA)

Born 1907; educated at Eton College and Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst; joined Royal Horse Guards, Mar 1927, 2nd Lt, 1927; Lt 1930; Capt 1934; married Angela Claire Louise (née Dudley Ward), 1935; instructor on anti-gas and air defence measures, School of Military Engineering, Chatham, Dec 1937; General Staff Officer, Grade 3 (passive air defence) in department of Chief of Imperial General S

LEICESTER, Bernard William

Brigadier Bernard Leicester DSO
4 Special Service (Commando) Brigade
Royal Marines
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Bar to the Distinguished Service Order
Brigadier Bernard William 'Jumbo' Leicester commanded 4 Special Service Brigade. He was awarded the DSO for  gallant and distinguished service during the landing of Allied Forces in Normandy and during the advance to the River Seine [1].

LOCKETT, Jeffrey Gordon

No 4 Commando
Seaforth Highlanders
Royal Leicestershire Regiment, 7th Bn.
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Military Cross (MC)
Mentioned in Despatches
Served as a Gunner in a TA Royal Artillery unit from 2 September 1939 until 31 May May 1940 when he began officer training in 162 OCTU [1]. 
21 September 1940 commissioned Second Lieutenant, Seaforths [2].

LOVAT, Lord

No 4 Commando
Lovat Scouts
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Military Cross (MC)
Deputy Lieutenant (DL)
Justice of the Peace (JP)

Lord Lovat first enlisted in the Scots Guards in 1932, leaving the army in 1937. Two years later at the outbreak of war he rejoined the Army in the Lovat Scouts. Lord Lovat was part of a small but elite group of men who formed the idea of a Special Training Centre, agreed on the location, and devised and implemented a course of training once it was approved.

MADOC, Reginald William

Royal Marines
Royal Marines
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Mentioned in Despatches
Major General Reginald Madoc D.S.O., O.B.E., was appointed C.B. on 1st January 1959 [1].
  • 1951 (Lieutenant Colonel) (42 CommandoRM) appointed O.B.E. for gallant and distinguished services in Malaya [2].

MANNERS, James Calvert

40RM Commando
Royal Marines
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lieutenant Colonel James Manners DSO, Officer Commanding 40RM Commando, died during operations on the enemy held island of Brac, Yugoslavia.
He had been Commanding Officer since just after the Dieppe raid and was appointed D.S.O. for gallant and distinguished services in operations leading to the capture of Termoli. *
 
Sources

MESSENGER, Gordon Kenneth

Royal Marines
Royal Marines
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB)
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Bar to the Distinguished Service Order
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
General Gordon Kenneth Messenger, C.B. D.S.O. O.B.E., was appointed K.C.B. on 11 June 2016 [1].
  • 16 May 2016 promoted General and to be Vice Chief of the Defence Staff and Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The QUEEN [2].
  • Appointed C.B. 13 June 2015 [3].

MILLS-ROBERTS, Derek

No 6 Commando
Irish Guards
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Bar to the Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross (MC)
Mentioned in Despatches

Born in 1908; educated at Liverpool College and Oxford University; worked for his father's firm of solicitors, 1935; joined Supplementary Reserve of Officers, Irish Guards, 1936; joined 1 Bn, Irish Guards, 1939-1942, and served in Norway; transferred to special services No 4 Commando, 1942; took part in Dieppe Raid, Aug 1942; Lt Col, 1943; Commanding Officer, No 6 Commando, North Africa, 1943;

MOULTON, James Louis

Lt. Col James Louis Moulton
48RM Commando
Royal Marines
Royal Marines
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Mentioned in Despatches
Lieutenant Colonel James Louis Moulton, Commanding Officer 48RM Commando until March 1945, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for gallant and distinguished services while operating with the Army during the successful landings in Normandy. [1] . 

NICHOLL, Hugh Rowley Mount

RN Commando
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
Mentioned in Despatches
Commander Hugh Nicholl served with 'G' Beach Commando [1][6][7]. 
  • 20 January 1941 (Acting Commander) appointed Distinguished Service Order for coolness, skill and devotion to duty while serving in the Mediterranean [2].

NORMAN, Jaimie McCoy

3 Cdo. Bde. RM
Royal Marines
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Captain Jaimie Norman was appointed to the Distinguished Service Order in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan in 2007 [1].
  • December 2020 (Colonel) appointed O.B.E. (Military Division) [2].
Source
London Gazette 58633, page 3612.

O'FLAHERTY, Denis William Venables Patrick

Denis William Venables Patrick O'Flaherty
Brigadier O'Flaherty
No 3 Commando
Royal Artillery
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Mentioned in Despatches
Bronze Star (USA)
Lieutenant Denis O'Flaherty, No. 3 Commando 6 troop, was appointed DSO in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in successful combined operations against the enemy at Vaagso and Maaloy on December 27th 1941 [1]. He additionally received a Mention in Despatches during this operation [1].
 

PALMER, Eric Charles Ernest

41RM Commando
Royal Marines
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Acting Lieutenant Colonel Eric Palmer was appointed D.S.O. in recognition of his gallant and distinguished service during his Commando's landing at the breach in the dyke at Westkapelle, Walcheren, on 1st November 1944, and the successful attack and capture of the enemy battery  which had been causing considerable casualties in the landing area [1]. 
 

PHILLIPS, Cecil Farndale

47RM Commando
3 Cdo. Bde. RM
Royal Marines
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Mentioned in Despatches
Order of Oranje Nassau with Swords (Netherlands)
Acting Lieutenant Colonel Cecil Farndale Phillips was the Commanding Officer of No. 47 Royal Marine Commando, Royal Marines, during operations at Normandy and Walcheren.  Post war he commanded  3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines during operations in Malaya. 
 
  • 1 September 1923 appointed Probationary 2nd Lieutenant RM [*].

PRICE, Martin

48RM Commando
Royal Marines
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Mentioned in Despatches
Acting Lieutenant Colonel Martin Price D.S.O., R.M., was posted Commanding Officer 48RM Commando in March 1945 [1]. He had previously been Second in Command of 47RM Commando [1A].
  • By February 1946 Lt. Colonel Price had replaced Lt. Colonel Komrower as Commandant of the Commanding Basic Training Centre [1B].

QUILL, Raymond Humphrey

Colonel Raymond Humphrey Quill
30 Commando Assault Unit
Royal Marines
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO)
Legion of Merit (USA)
Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Humphrey Quill was the Commanding Officer of 30 Assault Unit from November 1944. A veteran of World War 1 he had served with the RM Brigade at the Dardanelles 1914/15 and on board HMS Lord Nelson from October 1916 to November 1918 [1]. 
  • 28 March 1935 (Major) appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order [2].

RICHES, Ian Hurry

43RM Commando
Royal Marines
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB)
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Acting Lieutenant Colonel Ian Hurry Riches, G.S.O.1 Special Service Group, was appointed Officer Commanding 43RM Commando in November 1944 [1][1a] .
10 July 1945 appointed Companion of the Distinguished Service Order outstanding courage, determination and devotion to duty in operations during the campaign in Italy [2].

ROY, Donald William

Captain Donald Roy DSO
No 2 Commando
No 4 Independent Company
Liverpool Scottish Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Territorial Decoration (TD)
Private Donald William Roy, a Cadet of the Fettes College Contingent Junior Division O.T.C., received his commission into the Liverpool Scots TA on the 17th June 1939.
Lieutenant Roy was mobilised in August 1939 and posted to the 2nd Battalion. From there he volunteered for the Independent Companies and was posted to No 3 Platoon,  No 4 Independent Company.

SAEGERT, John Maclean (Lt. Col)

John Maclean Saegert
No 9 Commando
Royal Engineers
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
13 July 1921 Royal Military Academy commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers [1].
13 July 1928 promoted Lieutenant [2][2a].
13 July 1932 promoted Captain [2].
1 August 1938 promoted Major [2].
29 July 1940 - 28 October 1940 - Acting Lieutenant Colonel [2].

SANKEY, Robert Woodall

Lieutenant Colonel Sankey RM
40RM Commando
Royal Marines
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
Mentioned in Despatches
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Sankey was appointed Officer Commanding 40 Royal Marine Commando on the 1st July 1944 after the death in June of Lieutenant Colonel  James C. Manners, DSO [more....] [1].
  • 1943 Commanding Officer 11th RM Bn. [2].

SHAW, David Mackenzie

Lt Col Shaw OC No 5 Commando
No 5 Commando
Royal Inniskillings Fusiliers
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Military Cross (MC)
Mentioned in Despatches
Commanding Officer No 5 Commando when they sailed to India in November 1943 until the 12th September 1944 when he relinquished his command to Lt Col Pollitt and rejoined his Regiment, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
 

SPENCER, Paul

47RM Commando
Royal Marines
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Captain Paul Spencer, the Adjutant of 47RM Commando, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in recognition of his gallant and distinguished service during an assault on a gun battery at Walcheren on the 2nd November 1944.
Recommendation

STURGES, Robert Grice

Robert Grice Sturges
Special Service Brigade
Royal Marines
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Mentioned in Despatches
Major General Robert Grice Sturges, a veteran of WW1, commanded the Special Service Group from August 1943.
  • 5 July 1940 (Colonel) (Royal Marines) Mentioned in Despatches in recognition of his service as Commander of 'Force Sturges' to establish a base on Iceland [1].

TAILYOUR, Norman Hastings

45 Cdo. RM
Royal Marines
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB)
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Bar to the Distinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Despatches
Lieutenant General Norman Tailyour was knighted in June 1966.
 
  • 1945, 8 January, Commanding Officer 27RM Battalion [1].
  • 1945, D.S.O. for gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe with 27 RM Bn. [1, 2].
  • 1945, MiD in recognition of good services with the 21st Army group [3]. 

THOMAS, Jeremy Hywel

3 Cdo. Bde. RM
Royal Marines
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Brigadier Jeremy Thomas, HQ 3 Commando Brigade RM, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1st October 2006 to 31st March 2007 

TOD, Ronald John Frederick (Brig)

No 9 Commando
No 6 Independent Company
No 11 Independent Company
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Bar to the Distinguished Service Order
Commissioned  into the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders in 1925. Served in No 6 Independent Company and was  Officer Commanding No 11 Independent Company in 1940 and later took command of No 9 Commando in 1942.  Awarded DSO, and later a Bar to the DSO, each for "gallant and distinguished services in Italy " whilst commanding No 9 Commando in 1944.  Promoted Brigadier and Officer Commandi

TWEED, David Gratiaen

40 Cdo. RM
Royal Marines
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Mentioned in Despatches
Captain (Acting Major) David Gratiaen Tweed received a Mention in Despatches in September 1945 for good services with the 21st Army Group [1]. He is shown that year as D.A.A. and Q.M.G. 116th RM Infantry Brigade [1a].

WHITEHEAD, Andrew Francis

45 Cdo. RM
Royal Marines
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Mentioned in Despatches
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Whitehead, commanding 45 Commando Royal Marines, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his actions during operations on the Falkland Islands. He also recieved a Mention in Despatches during operations in Northern Ireland.
Citation for DSO

WILSON, Robert

No 8 Commando
SBS
Royal Artillery
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Bar to the Distinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Despatches
Territorial Efficiency Medal
Gunner Robert Wilson was commissioned Second Lieutenant on 2 September 1939 [1]. After volunteering for the Commandos he joined the folbot section of No.8 Commando, prior to a move to the Special Boat Section in the Middle East.

WOOLLEY, Arthur Rupert (Lt. Col)

30 Commando Assault Unit
Royal Marines
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Arthur Woolley joined the Royal Marines on 1 December 1939 and after his basic training was posted to the 5th Batallion Royal Marines Brigade.
  • Promoted Temporary Captain April 1940, Acting Temporary Major November 1941, and Second in Command of 5RM in June 1942.

WYLIE, Kenneth Neil

No 7 Commando
Royal Engineers
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Temporary Major Kenneth Wylie, B.A. was second in command of No.7 Commando. During operations on Crete he was placed in command replacing the sick Lt. Col. Colvin and was subsequently captured by the enemy [1]. 
  • He was transported to Germany and imprisoned at Oflag O9/AH at Spangenberg [2].

YOUNG, Peter

Brigadier Peter Young
Then then Major Peter Young
No 3 Commando
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Military Cross (MC)
Bar to the Military Cross
2nd Bar to the Military Cross
Peter Young was commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1939. He served in France with the British Expeditionary Force before being wounded and evacuated back to the UK at Dunkirk.  Joining No 3 Commando in the first selction of officers after its formation, the next few years would see Peter Young rise to the temporary rank of Lieut. Colonel and assume command of No 3 Commando in late 1943.

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